Friday, February 3, 2017

Black Lives Matter Art Show Went To The Living Gallery

And so another one of those Black Lives Matter Art Shows has come to pass in that New York City area in the midst of what seems like the United States Presidential Elections 2016 having turned America upside down to where it has descended into one big anti inauguration protest in these first few weeks in 2017 since I last posted on this blog that calls itself Occupy Art. And this one day pop up Black Lives Matter Art Show that I managed to drum up in that New York City area happened to be at The Living Gallery, that really cool art space in that neighborhood of Bushwick, Brooklyn, or is it on the border of Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. And if I must use some of the same words to describe this event from that BlackMattersUS article that I wrote, this art show was different from those Occupy Art and Black Lives Matter art shows that I have done before in that Monica Octavia from Museum of Impact had her letter writing table, banners and artwork there as part of her mobile social justice museum and Steve from Stop Mass Incarceration Network handed out STOP POLICE TERROR #RiseUpOctober. Which Side Are You On? posters and more STOP POLICE TERROR #RiseUpOctober. Which Side Are You On? posters and Welf, Ras and Kenny played music, music and more music. And though all of these art shows have been different, they have all had the same concept: Black Lives Matter. And so a few of those Your Thoughts On Black Lives Matters thoughts that were written on some of those banners at this event were:

1.Why do modern human societies commodify, exploit and dispose of living things.
2. Love your community? Be active! Do more stuff like this!
3. "I ain't gotta do nothin but stay black and die!"
4. #stay focused my brothers & sisters
5. It is our duty to fight for our freedom. It is out duty to win. We must love each other and support each other. We have nothing to lose but our chains. - Assata
6. Black Liberation #BLMNY
7. Be the change to make the change
8. We are in the midst of a revolution
9. One race. The human race.
10. Don't forget black trans women matter!
11. This is not a time to return to normalcy
12. BLACK LIVES MATTER!
13. !Seguimos unidos! !Los Vidas negros importan SIEMPRE!
14. #Jewish Latinas 4 BLM
15. Black Is Beautiful
16. Never lose that which makes you shine
17. Feminism without intersectionality = white supremacy. BLACK WOC MATTER!
18. Love your brother Like No Other! Black Lives Matter! Let's come together to create a world of Love, Peace & beautiful colors!
19. Keep getting shit done. !!B.L.M!!
20. One day we will stand as one. THE VICTIMS REST IN POWER
21. My dark skin is liberating! G. Turner
22. We will fight with love and we will prevail
23. "Caring for myself is not self indulgence" It's self preservation and that's an act of political warfare. -Audre Lorde
24. JUSTICE 3 ALL not just the oppressors.
25. RIP Sandra Bland Amore. You matter! Italian Latina x BLM!!
26. Out of many we are one...
27. The dilemma at the heart o the fight against racism is that most people - racist, hateful people = do not believe that they are racist. That is why they shout back "White Lives Matter". The importance of black lives is more than ignored, it's socially perpetuated. It's so sad - my whole white family leads this philosophy. I believe in Black Lives.
28. "What do we want?" "Justice!" When do we want it?" "NOW!"
29. What do you do when the cops pull you over?
30. All lives can't matter until black lives matter.

And the list of thoughts amongst hundreds of thoughts from these various Occupy Art and Black Lives Matter art shows that I have posted on this blog before goes on and on as in this list of more Your Thoughts On Black Lives Matter thoughts. .And thank you Jeannie Hopper and A Plus for letting me talk about that Black Lives Matter Art Show on your show. And I am glad that people were able to make it to this art show on what seems like one of the coldest days of the year and limited space at the gallery. And thanks for hosting this event Nyssa Frank at your really cool gallery with what seems like a different event each day there. And I guess if I were to sum this event up the Facebook event invite reads something like:Black Lives Matter | Carla Cubit of Occupy Art

Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, the one day pop up Black Lives Matter Art Show features Carla Cubit's Black Lives Matter artwork and posters, accompanied by her photographs from Black Lives Matter protests throughout the NYC area and artwork from Museum of Impact.

"Expand scope, perspective, and inspiration towards an ongoing series of future culture jams and events around this theme and time." During Open Hours, all are encouraged to come talk about the Black Lives Matter movement and are invited to view Your Thoughts On Black Lives Matter banners and create their own posters/Black Lives Matter inspired artwork (art materials and supplies provided).

Handmade Black Lives Matter necklaces, magnets, key chains and pins will be on sale for $1 during the Opening Reception and all Open Hours 12 - 10pm.

About the ArtistCarla Cubit's creates small mixed media assemblage pieces using found objects and materials--often discarded hardware and recycled objects. Recently her works have been inspired by the Occupy Wall Street and Black Lives Matter movements. Cubit finds that there is no separation between her daily life and her creative outpouring: "I love the arts in whatever medium it may be; music, theater, dance etc; and I believe in religion, mysticism and the secret meaning of the unknown and art as a universal means of communication."

About Occupy Art"We are the 99%." Visit Occupy Art, to learn more about past Occupy Art and Black Lives Matter Art Shows.http://occupyart.org/

About Museum of Impact"Museum of Impact (MOI) inspires action by exploring self, society, art, and activism.Our mobile social justice museum explores activism, altruism and advocacy thru a creative lens. We celebrate movements of the people; offering a culturally conscious space to encounter ideas, contemplate solutions, engage each other and take action!"

About Monica OctaviaMonica O. Montgomery is an international speaker, museum director and cultural consultant, curating media and museums to be in service to society. She is a recent speaker at TedX Charlottesville and a winner of the 2016 Arts Entrepreneurship Award from Fractured Atlas. She is the founding director of Museum of Impact the world’s first mobile social justice museum, inspiring action at the intersection of art, activism, self and society. She directs the museum in working with communities to interrogate contemporary and historic social movements and solutions.

About The Stop Mass Incarceration Network"Rise up to Stop Mass Incarceration & Police Terror. We are initiating an effort to accelerate the movement to stop the injustice of mass incarceration and police brutality; the racially biased policies and practices of the police, the courts and the U.S. legal system; and to support the human rights of prisoners and of the formerly incarcerated. We call on all to join us." Learn more and get involved, at Stop Mass Incarceration Network.

And whether or not another one of those Occupy Art or Black Lives Matter art shows will ever happen again remains to be seen, though on this day finds itself as Occupy Wall Street Day one thousand and something, I think... and those global revolution and all things police brutality and beyond Occupy Wall Street and Black Lives Matter movements are still moving fast.Black Lives Matter. Occupy Art. Occupy Wall Street Worldwide.